1 T iberius Caesar had been ruler for fifteen years. Pontius Pilate was ruler of the country of Judea. Herod was the ruler of the country of Galilee. His brother Philip was the ruler of the countries of Ituraea and Trachonitis. Lysanias was the ruler of the country of Abilene.

Nell’anno quindicesimo dell’impero di Tiberio Cesare, quando Ponzio Pilato era governatore della Giudea, ed Erode tetrarca della Galilea, e Filippo, suo fratello, tetrarca dell’Iturea e della Traconitide, e Lisania tetrarca dell’Abilene,

2 A nnas and Caiaphas were the head religious leaders. The Word of God came to John the Baptist, the son of Zacharias. John was in the desert.

sotto i sommi sacerdoti Anna e Caiafa, la parola di Dio fu diretta a Giovanni, figlio di Zaccaria, nel deserto.

3 H e went into all the country around the Jordan River. He preached that people should be baptized because they were sorry for their sins and had turned from them, and they would be forgiven.

Ed egli andò per tutta la regione intorno al Giordano, predicando un battesimo di ravvedimento per il perdono dei peccati,

4 T he early preacher Isaiah wrote these words: “His voice calls out in the desert. ‘Make the way ready for the Lord. Make the road straight for Him!

come sta scritto nel libro delle parole del profeta Isaia: « Voce di uno che grida nel deserto: “Preparate la via del Signore, raddrizzate i suoi sentieri.

5 E very valley will be filled and every mountain and hill will be brought down. The turns in the road will be made straight and the rough places will be made smooth.

Ogni valle sarà colmata e ogni monte e ogni colle sarà spianato; le vie tortuose saranno fatte diritte e quelle accidentate saranno appianate;

6 A nd all men will see God saving people from the punishment of their sins.’”

e ogni creatura vedrà la salvezza di Dio ”».

7 J ohn said to the people who came to be baptized by him, “You family of snakes! Who told you how to keep from the anger of God that is coming?

Giovanni dunque diceva alle folle che andavano per essere battezzate da lui: «Razza di vipere, chi vi ha insegnato a sfuggire l’ira futura?

8 D o something to let me see that you have turned from your sins. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you, God can make children for Abraham out of these stones.

Fate dunque dei frutti degni del ravvedimento, e non cominciate a dire in voi stessi: “Noi abbiamo Abraamo per padre!” Perché vi dico che Dio può da queste pietre far sorgere dei figli ad Abraamo.

9 E ven now the ax is on the root of the trees. Every tree that does not give good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Ormai la scure è posta alla radice degli alberi: ogni albero dunque che non fa buon frutto viene tagliato e gettato nel fuoco».

10 T he people asked him, “Then what should we do?”

E la folla lo interrogava, dicendo: «Allora, che dobbiamo fare?»

11 H e answered them, “If you have two coats, give one to him who has none. If you have food, you must share some.”

Egli rispondeva loro: «Chi ha due tuniche ne faccia parte a chi non ne ha, e chi ha da mangiare faccia altrettanto».

12 T ax-gatherers came to be baptized also. They asked him, “Teacher, what are we to do?”

Vennero anche dei pubblicani per essere battezzati e gli dissero: «Maestro, che dobbiamo fare?»

13 H e said to them, “Do not take more money from people than you should.”

Ed egli rispose loro: «Non riscuotete nulla di più di quello che vi è ordinato».

14 A lso soldiers asked him, “What are we to do?” He answered them, “Take no money from anyone by using your own strength. Do not lie about anyone. Be happy with the pay you get.”

Lo interrogarono pure dei soldati, dicendo: «E noi, che dobbiamo fare?» Ed egli a loro: «Non fate estorsioni, non opprimete nessuno con false denunce e accontentatevi della vostra paga».

15 T he people were looking for something to happen. They were thinking in their hearts about John the Baptist. They wondered if he might be the Christ.

Ora il popolo era in attesa e tutti si domandavano in cuor loro se Giovanni fosse il Cristo.

16 B ut John said to all of them, “I baptize you with water. There is One coming Who is greater than I. I am not good enough to get down and help Him take off His shoes. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Giovanni rispose, dicendo a tutti: «Io vi battezzo in acqua; ma viene colui che è più forte di me, al quale io non sono degno di sciogliere il legaccio dei calzari. Egli vi battezzerà in Spirito Santo e fuoco.

17 H e comes ready to clean the grain. He will gather the grain and clean it all. He will put the clean grain into a building. But He will burn that which is no good with a fire that cannot be put out.” John the Baptist Is Put in Prison

Egli ha in mano il suo ventilabro per ripulire interamente la sua aia e raccogliere il grano nel suo granaio; ma la pula, la brucerà con fuoco inestinguibile».

18 J ohn spoke much more as he preached the Good News to the people.

Così, con molte e varie esortazioni evangelizzava il popolo;

19 H e had also spoken sharp words to Herod the ruler because of Herodias. She was his brother Philip’s wife. And John spoke to Herod about all the wrongs he had done.

ma Erode il tetrarca, rimproverato da lui a proposito di Erodiade, moglie di suo fratello, e per tutte le malvagità che aveva commesso,

20 T o all these, Herod added another sin by putting John in prison. The Baptism of Jesus

aggiunse a tutte le altre anche questa: rinchiuse Giovanni in prigione. Battesimo di Gesù Cristo

21 W hen all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized also. As He prayed, the heaven opened.

Ora, mentre tutto il popolo si faceva battezzare, anche Gesù fu battezzato; e, mentre pregava, si aprì il cielo

22 T he Holy Spirit came down on Him in a body like a dove. A voice came from heaven and said, “You are My much-loved Son. I am very happy with You.” The Family of Jesus through Mary

e lo Spirito Santo scese su di lui in forma corporea, come una colomba; e venne una voce dal cielo: «Tu sei il mio diletto Figlio; in te mi sono compiaciuto». Genealogia di Gesù Cristo

23 J esus was about thirty years old when He began His work. People thought Jesus was the son of Joseph, the son of Heli.

Gesù, quando cominciò a insegnare, aveva circa trent’anni ed era figlio, come si credeva, di Giuseppe, di Eli,

24 H eli was the son of Matthat. Matthat was the son of Levi. Levi was the son of Melchi. Melchi was the son of Jannai. Jannai was the son of Joseph.

di Mattàt, di Levi, di Melchi, di Iannài, di Giuseppe,

25 J oseph was the son of Mattathias. Mattathias was the son of Amos. Amos was the son of Nahum. Nahum was the son of Esli. Esli was the son of Naggai.

di Mattatia, di Amos, di Naum, di Esli, di Naggai,

26 N aggai was the son of Maath. Maath was the son of Mattathias. Mattathias was the son of Semein. Semein was the son of Josech. Josech was the son of Juda.

di Maat, di Mattatia, di Semèin, di Iosec, di Ioda,

27 J uda was the son of Johanan. Johanan was the son of Rhesa. Rhesa was the son of Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was the son of Salathiel. Salathiel was the son of Neri.

di Ioanan, di Resa, di Zorobabele, di Sealtiel, di Neri,

28 N eri was the son of Melchi. Melchi was the son of Addi. Addi was the son of Cosam. Cosam was the son of Elmadam. Elmadam was the son of Er.

di Melchi, di Addi, di Cosam, di Elmadàm, di Er,

29 E r was the son of Joshua. Joshua was the son of Eliezer. Eliezer was the son of Jorim. Jorim was the son of Matthat. Matthat was the son of Levi.

di Gesù, di Eliezer, di Iorim, di Mattàt, di Levi,

30 L evi was the son of Simeon. Simeon was the son of Judah. Judah was the son of Joseph. Joseph was the son of Janam. Janam was the son of Eliakim.

di Simeone, di Giuda, di Giuseppe, di Ionam, di Eliachim,

31 E liakim was the son of Melea. Melea was the son of Menna. Menna was the son of Mattatha. Mattatha was the son of Nathan. Nathan was the son of David.

di Melea, di Menna, di Mattata, di Natan, di Davide,

32 D avid was the son of Jesse. Jesse was the son of Obed. Obed was the son of Boaz. Boaz was the son of Salmon. Salmon was the son of Nahshon.

di Isai, di Obed, di Boaz, di Salmon, di Nason,

33 N ahshon was the son of Amminadab. Amminadab was the son of Admin. Admin was the son of Ram. Ram was the son of Hezron. Hezron was the son of Perez. Perez was the son of Judah.

di Amminadab, di Admin, di Arni, di Chesron, di Perez, di Giuda,

34 J udah was the son of Jacob. Jacob was the son of Isaac. Isaac was the son of Abraham. Abraham was the son of Terah. Terah was the son of Nahor.

di Giacobbe, di Isacco, di Abraamo, di Tera, di Naor,

35 N ahor was the son of Serug. Serug was the son of Ragau. Ragau was the son of Peleg. Peleg was the son of Eber. Eber was the son of Shelah.

di Serug, di Reu, di Peleg, di Eber, di Sela,

36 S helah was the son of Cainan. Cainan was the son of Arphaxad. Arphaxad was the son of Shem. Shem was the son of Noah. Noah was the son of Lamech.

di Cainan, di Arpacsad, di Sem, di Noè, di Lamec,

37 L amech was the son of Methuselah. Methuselah was the son of Enoch. Enoch was the son of Jared. Jared was the son of Mahalaleel. Mahaleel was the son of Cainan.

di Metusela, di Enoc, di Iared, di Maalaleel, di Cainan,

38 C ainan was the son of Enos. Enos was the son of Seth. Seth was the son of Adam. Adam was the son of God.

di Enos, di Set, di Adamo, di Dio.